DARIUS ROSS – THE ROLL UP KINGPIN SHARES EXIT STRATEGIES FOR SMALL COMPANIES

 

In a world where adversity can either break or build, Darius Ross stands as a beacon of hope and resilience. Known as "The Roll Up Kingpin" for his expertise in smaller acquisitions, Darius Ross is a renowned motivational speaker, author, and life coach. He motivates business professionals, investors, young men, divorcees and many readers to overcome obstacles and create lasting financial legacies.

Darius Ross’s journey began amid hardship in Auburn Park, Chicago. Following a devastating fire that left him unhoused, as well as the loss of countless friends due to rampant gang violence, Darius refused to surrender to adversity. Instead, he channeled his struggles into motivation, relentlessly pursuing education and personal growth. His unyielding tenacity led him to achieving entrepreneurial success and inspiring others with his books and motivational speeches. His resilience transformed his life and established a foundation for national impact, proving that anyone can rise above their circumstances.

Drawing from his extensive experience in business acquisitions and entrepreneurship, Darius Ross offers the following five key suggestions for small companies looking to develop a successful exit strategy:

·      Start Planning Early - Develop your exit plan well in advance. Early preparation allows you to maximize company value, address potential pitfalls, and position your business for a smooth transition.

·      Understand Your Value -Conduct a realistic assessment of your company’s strengths, market position, and unique assets. Knowing your true value helps you negotiate effectively and attract the right buyers.

·      Build a Strong Team -Ensure your company operates efficiently without you at the helm. A strong management team adds value and reassures buyers that the business will thrive post-acquisition.

·      Maintain Clean Financials: Keep accurate and transparent financial records. Buyers are attracted to companies with clear, well-documented financial histories, which facilitate easier due diligence and valuation. Avoid aggressive tax avoidance or overly creative tax strategies, as these can deter buyers and complicate the sales process.

·      Creative Financing Options and Strategies: Explore innovative financing structures that benefit both you and the buyer, ensuring a smooth exit with maximum profit and future potential. Consider options such as seller financing, earn-outs, deferred payments, or equity rollovers to make the deal more attractive and flexible for all parties involved.

·      Seek Professional Guidance - Engage with advisors experienced in mergers and acquisitions. Legal, financial, and business experts can help you navigate the complexities of exiting, ensuring you secure the best possible outcome

Darius Ross’s legacy is built on his dedication to helping others create lasting financial legacies. His suggestions reflect a deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing small business owners. By following these strategies, entrepreneurs can position themselves for successful exits, unlocking new possibilities for growth and prosperity.

Today, Darius, who resides in New York City and Maine, is celebrated for his unwavering commitment to empowering others and his tireless focus on creating financial legacies for regular folks that will transform their lives. Ross has authored six books, including Mastering The TPS BluePrint: Transforming Trauma into Triumph and Leadership DNA: Building a Thriving Business Culture. His latest venture, Dating at 50, which chronicles his experiences with love and romance as an older man, is expected to be released soon. He has successfully launched ventures across various industries and advises high-net-worth clients, specializing in finding opportunities in challenges. Through coaching, mentoring, and his writing—including his Forbes blog and podcasts—Ross shares insights on transformation, wealth creation, and resilience. He focuses on multifamily real estate, supports innovative startups as an angel investor, and inspires audiences worldwide to confront challenges and strive for greatness.

 *******************************

Learn more about Darius Ross in his interview here or look for all his books on Amazon.

The Pandemic of Fatherless Sons By Stefan Aarnio

The Pandemic of Fatherless Sons

                                                              By Stefan Aarnio           

                As Father’s Day approaches, many households will not be celebrating as a family. Divorce rates hover around 50% for modern marriages, extracting fathers from half of families, leaving boys without a strong male influence. This mass exodus of fathers is leading to a masculinity crisis worldwide. A man these days is no longer a man. He is confused, raised by women, and explicitly not raised by other men. Mom usually gets the kids and Dad gets removed, but he gets to pay the child support.

The father role has been marginalized mostly by the ‘empowerment’ of women by leaders of the feminist movement by 1) women taking on the masculine role of work; 2) the welfare state; 3) divorce laws, family laws, child laws, and sex laws that favor women and give men almost no rights; 4) TV sitcoms where the dads are bumbling idiots. All these things combined make the role of the father mean less than ever before.

Millennials are on track to have worse lives than their parents, with lower wages, lower home ownership, lower marriage rates, and lower birth rates. The American dream that Boomers enjoyed will not look anything like the scraps left for the Millennial generation. This is not progress. It is a move backward. Make no mistake about it: We are going backward right now. Learning “how to be a man” is an endeavor that is no longer taught anywhere. In fact, this important skill is swept under the rug in the schools of today. So how can this be fixed?  

In order to fix the problems we face today, we must look at what worked before, back to  ancient family roles where the father provided for his family. Patriarchy has been the structure where men have ruled the family and ruled society throughout history because men were the leaders and protectors of their tribes against danger and were in charge of the survival of the group against 1) the elements; 2) starvation and death by lack of food; 3) violence or attacks by other tribes; 4) violence or attacks within the tribe; 5) protection from predatory animals, lions, tigers, bears, et al; (6) they were the best hunters and later farmers and later workers in the industrial age who made all the money and the women did all the house work; (7) they were decisive and aggressive in making choices about what to do next in the tribe; and (8) they did not have to leave their leadership posts for child-rearing or family responsibilities as women had to today, torn in the binary choice of family versus career.

We are living in a time where these ancient, sacred ideals of familial roles that sprung from various religions that worked historically, have now been cannibalized by feminism and ‘equality’ over the last seventy years—as if an average woman could fare well in the NBA against men a foot taller than they. The idea that men and women are equal is preposterous, and the fallacy of equality clearly does not bring value or intellectual honesty to the Western world. In fact, Instead, it’s largely responsible for the decline of families, which make up the basic social fabric of a society.

Sadly, there are few ‘real’ men left. What we have is a generation of weak men, raised by women, with no fathers. Missing today are the good fathers who once presided over stable families. Fathers are important for raising good girls into good women and good boys into strong men. The absence of these good fathers is leading to weak men who are the beard-wearing, toque-wearing, scarf-sporting Starbucks barista men who cannot find more meaningful masculine work.

The lack of fathers in many households can lead to some alarming issues. According to the National Principals Association Report, 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes—a whopping 9 times the national average. Along with that, the US Department of Health reports that 63% of children who commit suicide are from fatherless homes which is 5 times the national average. These statistics prove that the lack of a father can lead to serious issues for children.

                Boys learn most of what is important in to living a life as a man from their fathers. They learn how to behave, how to treat women, most importantly they learn how to be a strong man. Without a father in their life, many boys fail to learn these things. The absence of fathers isn’t the cause of all the problems we face today, but it’s a good place to start looking.

                So, the next time you see a father, wish him a happy Father’s Day and thank him for his lifelong commitment to being a father, the fabric of future generations of moral men.

About the Author: Stefan Aarnio is the author of the book “Hard Times Create Strong Men” and is a mentor of men.

Ready to Learn the Art of Manifestation? - Manifesting Made Easy, by Jen Mazer.

As we move through the New Year, many of us haven’t even begun or have already started falling back on our resolutions. It makes us feel that we are not living the life we want to lead in 2017. The truth is, most of us have hidden stumbling blocks preventing us from achieving the abundance we deserve.

Manifesting Made Easy: How to Harness the Law of Attraction to Get What You Really Want is a new book by New York-based transformational speaker and coach, Jen Mazer (the "Queen of Manifestation,"). In her book Jen teaches readers how to free themselves from limiting beliefs and embrace the idea of "acting as if" to attract what they desire— whether it is love, happiness, good health, or career success.

Praise for Manifesting Made Easy:

"Jen, you surprised me and impressed me. So well done! I applaud you for what you're doing. You're making a difference and helping women everywhere." —Dr. Joe Vitale, New York Times bestselling author and star of the hit movie The Secret

"Thank you, Jen. I love you. You're a soul sister.”—Janet Bray Attwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Passion Test

"I know who to call if I get stuck. Because every now and then, you need a refresher to remind you of what you know. If I need to remember, I'm gonna call the Queen of Manifestation."—Rickie Byars Beckwith, world-renowned singer and musical director of Agape International Spiritual Center

The Queen of Manifestation teaches how to turn intentions into reality!

Manifesting Made Easy takes readers step by step through the process of manifesting, from understanding what it is they want, to mapping out ways to make it a reality, to signaling to the universe that they are ready for good things. With exercises, writing prompts, and a wealth of personal success stories, readers will learn how to attract the right circumstances and people.

Jen Mazer (New York, NY) is a transformational speaker and coach, known for her signature Manifestation Masters Program and her website, QueenofManifestation.com. Her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, The New York Times, New York Magazine, and on Fox News, ABC, and Jezebel.com.

My Thoughts:

When I read about Jen Mazer's new book, I was instantly called to give it a read. Something about learning the art of manifestation and the law of attraction was a fascinating topic to me. I am already a big believer in the concept that our energy is a powerful tool! Manifesting Made Easy is a wonderful book all about empowering the reader. Jen makes it an easy, fun, and truly enlightening read. You feel like she is sitting with you, providing advice and guidance for everything you feel is holding you back, while showing you how to tap into your own personal power. It digs deep into the mistakes that many make when it comes to manifesting, as well as how to change the way you are looking at and acting in your life.

No matter if you are trying to bring forward more in your life when it comes to career success, love, money or living a happier life in general, Jen is ready to show you the way. 

What sets this book aside from many is how interactive it is. Jen provides worksheets, writing prompts, personal exercises, and inspiring stories that everyone can relate to when it comes to acting as if. During each chapter, Jen even shares advanced manifesting tips to add to the practices you learn throughout.

I was even able to get my mom into, Manifesting Made Easy. She has never been big on self help books, as many do not resonate with her, but she could not get enough of this book during a family road trip. It has been on her night stand for weeks now. She would often turn to me while reading, saying how friendly and personable Jen's writing was. Everything was written in a way that was easy to understand and fun to read. Plus, the font was blue and the highlights were yellow, even more relaxing! They say colored text actually sticks in our minds more. 

If you are looking for an inspiring book to provide you with a whole new perspective, make sure to pick up, Manifesting Made Easy by, Jen Mazer. 

   

Connect with Jen Mazer the Queen of Manifestation:

Website  Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest   

SLEEP SMARTER: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to a Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success

Sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice in order to do everything from work harder to binge-watch our favorite shows. 

Unfortunately, this also means sacrificing our mental, emotional and physical performance, as sleep deprivation can lead to immune system failure, diabetes, obesity, depression, memory loss or worse.

We need a wake-up call when it comes to recognizing the importance of sleep in lives, and SLEEP SMARTER: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to a Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success (Rodale; March 15, 2016) by Shawn Stevenson, BS, FDN (as seen on TedX, ESPN, ENTREPRENEUR, ESPN and more), host of the wildly popular podcast “Model Health Show” and Founder of the Advanced Integrative Health Alliance, delivers just that.

Through years of research and consulting the leading health experts, Stevenson discovered that the missing piece in many people’s quest to optimize their hormone function, balance blood sugar levels, get the numbers on the scale to move or simply not feel like they’ve been hit by a truck is sleep.

In SLEEP SMARTER, Stevenson reveals the simple, surprising and highly effective strategies readers can start employing right away, including:

YOUR BRAIN NEEDS A DETOX EVERY NIGHT Scientists have found that our brains actually have their own unique waste disposal system, similar to that of the lymphatic system; it’s called the GLYMPHATIC system. All of the dynamic functions the human brain does result in a lot of waste products, all of which need to be removed. This waste removal literally makes room for new growth and development. Removing and recyling dead cells, tossing out toxins and shutting out waste is critical to brain function. If the waste removal system in your home backs up, then things get nasty. The same holds true if you’re not sleeping well and your glymphatic system can’t do its job – this is believed to be one of the foundational causes of Alzheimer’s Disease.

IT’S NOT ABOUT GETTING YOUR 8 HOURS, IT’s ABOUT GETTING TO BED AT THE RIGHT TIME It’s been shown that human beings get the most beneficial hormonal secretions and recovery by sleeping during the hours of 10pm and 2am—you get the most rejuvenating effects during this period, and any sleep that you get in addition is a nice bonus. Some people get eight or more hours of sleep but still don’t feel rested when they wake up; this is because their bodies are being deprived of the regenerative sleep they need between 10pm and 2am.

LEAVE THE OFFICE ON TIME “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” is a common refrain in our culture. Everyone is trying to work harder, burning the candle at both ends and forgoing sleep. But it’s actually making us less efficient: our quality of work suffers when we don’t sleep. Research shows that just 24 hours of sleep deprivation leads to an overall reduction of six percent in glucose reaching the brain. Simple translation: you get dumber.  Instead, work smarter and schedule sleep. If you know you’ve got a big task, project or event coming up, plan ahead and set it up so that you get an optimal amount of sleep and can do your best work.

DON’T ORDER YOUR LUNCH IN, TAKE A WALK AND GET SOME SUN It may sound counterintuitive that getting more sunlight during the day can help you sleep better at night, but science has proven that to be the case. Light exposure (specifically sunlight) triggers your body to produce optimal levels of daytime hormones and neurotransmitters regulate your biological clock; too little light exposure during the day and too much artificial exposure in the evening negatively affect your ability to sleep well at night. In fact, a recent study focused on the sleep quality of day shift workers revealed some shocking results. When compared to office workers who have direct access to windows at work, the office workers who didn’t have access to windows got 173% less exposure to natural light and as a result slept an average of 46 fewer minutes each night. Sleep deficits resulted in more reported physical ailments and lower vitality.

LISTEN TO YOUR GUT The food you eat can dramatically impact your quality of sleep. Scientists have uncovered that the human gut is a mass of neural tissue, filled with 30 neurotransmitters (like the brain). Additionally, the gut has 400 times more melatonin than the pineal gland in your brain.  It has been found that your gut bacteria also have a circadian timing system and there’s a virtual “changing of the guard” that happens every night to help keep the good guys in control. If you don’t sleep, or don’t sleep well, then it gives the opportunistic bacteria a chance to take over your gut and brain.

SLEEP SMARTER lays out the effects of screentime before bed, when you should have your last cup of coffee, why good sex can result in good sleep, what to wear (or not wear) to bed, how to create a sleep sanctuary, the best time to exercise, the good-sleep nutrients and minerals your body needs, your best sleep positions and much more - including a 14-day plan to make over your sleep.

Throughout the book, Stevenson also weaves in his own inspiring personal journey to better health. As a teenager, he was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease that crushed his dreams of becoming a professional athlete. After a period of depression, Shawn took matters into his own hands. Unwilling to accept the “un-curable” diagnosis his doctors gave him, Shawn took a functional medicine approach to his health, including upgrading his sleep, and completely reversed the degeneration. He graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a background in biology and kinesiology and went on to found the Advance Integrative Health Alliance, which provides wellness services for individuals and organizations worldwide. Shawn has dedicated his life to showing people that they have the power to become their strongest and healthiest selves and that it all starts with a strong foundation: sleep.

My Thoughts

I have always resented sleep. Those are eight perfectly good hours that I could be doing important things. Unfortunately, sleep isn't optional, but at least now I can get the most out of it, thanks to Sleep Smarter. This book gives you tips and suggestions to help you get a better night's sleep, and use the time you're resting to improve your mind, body, and soul.

This book is a quick read and is packed with lots of information. It gives you a whole outline of things to do during the day that will help you get a better night's sleep. These are little things that aren't earth-shattering changes, like eating certain foods or getting the right amount of sunlight. You get tips on how to still your mind, the right positions to sleep in,and supplements that may help you get a better night's sleep naturally. At the end of the book there is a 14 day planner to help you track your success. This is a wonderful guide to a great night's sleep that will help you sleep better and awake more productive.

Book review and #giveaway: The Self-Motivated Kid by Shimi Kang, M.D.

THE SELF-MOTIVATED KID

How to Raise Happy, Healthy Children Who Know What They Want and Go After It (Without Being Told)
by Shimi Kang, M.D.

“With insight, professional expertise and unfailing instinct, Dr. Shimi Kang offers us essential guidance in restoring sanity to 21st Century parenting.”

—Gabor Maté M.D., co-author, Hold On To Your Kids

“If you're looking for effective but practical strategies to calm the chaos in your kids' lives, foster their internal motivation and truly prepare them to function successfully in the adult work - read this book!”

—Amy McCready, Founder of PositiveParentingSolutions.com 
and author of If I Have to Tell You One More Time...

According to Dr. Shimi Kang, a Harvard-trained child psychiatrist and an expert in human motivation, “Generation Y studies tell us that today’s youth value money and status more than any other generation did before them. At the same time, today’s youth are also considered among the least motivated.” 

Why does this generation lack motivation, and can anything be done to prevent future generations from suffering the same fate? In her book THE SELF-MOTIVATED KID: How to Raise Happy, Healthy Children Who Know What They Want and Go After It (Without Being Told) (Tarcher/Penguin Paperback; on sale August 8, 2015 – released in hardcover last year as The Dolphin Way), Dr. Kang claims that it is a combination of over-parenting, disconnection from community, and a lack of free time that saps the internal drive from children. As the mother of three and a child of Indian immigrants (ones who couldn’t afford to send their kids to special summer camps or music lessons), Kang has learned first-hand that raising kids who are driven and successful isn’t a matter of piano lessons, math tutors or money; it’s about helping your children embrace and rely upon the instincts that come naturally to them.

In THE SELF-MOTIVATED KID, Kang shows parents:

•        Why free time isn’t a waste of time
•        The science behind personal motivation, and how parents can use this knowledge to help their kids
•        The different kinds and forms of play, its critical role in human development, and how to incorporate it in daily life 
•        How community helps children become independent and successful
•        Why over-parenting produces anxious, unhappy, (and sometimes drug-addicted) adults

Drawing on the latest neuroscience and behavioral research, Dr. Kang explains why current parenting trends are preventing children from reaching their full potential. Featuring an accessible section with prescriptions to help motivate kids of all ages, THE SELF-MOTIVATED KID will give parents the tools to raise well-adjusted, resilient, and self-sufficient kids.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shimi Kang, M.D., is the medical director for Child and Youth Mental Health for Vancouver and a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kang has helped hundreds of children, adolescents, and parents move toward positive behaviors and better mental health. 

Website: drshimikang.com/ 

Facebook: facebook.com/drshimikang 

Twitter: twitter.com/drshimikang

My Thoughts

This was a very insightful book. I really enjoyed the layout and how easy it was to read this. It didn't feel like a task, but instead, it brought me into the story and the ideas of parenting. My children are older (almost 9 years and 11 years). There were tips in this book that applied to both young children as well as older.

I really liked the book because building confidence in our kids and raising them to take care of themselves is important. I like how the author gives tips on how to back off as a parent at time, even if we feel like controlling or doing something. It's very important to let a child learn how to do things and figure them out for themselves, but we can still give them guidance.

The author wrote things out in a relate-able manner that you can walk away from reading at any time and be able to apply in your life with your kids. After reading this book, I felt like it was one of those books that I needed to give out as a baby shower gift. Awesome book. 

Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to a copy of The Self Motivated Kid by Shimi Kang. To enter, simply fill out the giveaway tools form below. This giveaway will end on November 28th, 2015. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Open to US only. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this fantastic prize.

Entry-Form

From Stressed to Centered - A Practical Guide to a Healthier and Happier You

From Stressed to Centered is a one of a kind book because of its comprehensive approach, thoughtfully crafted structure, and practical methods that yield long-term results. From Stressed to Centered is a top to bottom offering that includes innovative Stress Management and Self-Care assessments which are powerful evaluative tools culled from Drs. Gionta and Guerra's years as behavior change experts within both clinical and organizational environments. From there, the book offers easy-to-integrate life-changing strategies to release yourself from stress and find a centered core from where you can be your most present and do your best work.From Stressed to Centered teaches you how to manage your stress through simple, actionable, portable techniques in only a few moments - anywhere, any time. The book also provides you with proven strategies to help you create your own powerful self-care toolkit to recognize and avoid burnout and stay on a low-stress path. 

From Stressed to Centered - A Practical Guide to a Healthier and Happier You authors Dana Gionta, Ph.D., and Dan Guerra, Psy.D. are both clinical psychologists and executive coaches in the New York City metro and Tri-state area. With a combined 30+ years of behavior change expertise, they have joined forces to write this powerful guide to help you shift your own behavior so you can be in better control of your own life.  

About The Authors:

Dr. Dana Gionta is a clinical psychologist, executive coach and organizational consultant with expertise in self-care, stress management and organizational health. Dr. Gionta works with high potential managers, senior executives and teams in small to larger Fortune 500 and nonprofit organizations in various industries, including health, law and hospitality. In her life coaching and psychology practice, she helps individuals make courageous changes in their personal and professional lives. Dr. Gionta is also an author, national speaker and trainer on topics related to stress management, self-care, boundaries and emotional health. 

Dr. Dan Guerra is a licensed clinical psychologist and an executive coach with expertise in stress management and behavioral change.  His innovative treatments help people emerge better versions of themselves, so they're more fulfilled in their personal relationships, successful in their careers and enjoy overall improvement in the quality of their lives. His tireless pursuit of healing and freeing people from negative behavioral patterns has led him down many different avenues. Dr. Guerra is a psychologist, psychotherapist, mindfulness meditation teacher, educator, executive coach, Playback Theatre actor, author, and international public speaker. 

My Thoughts

The author really asks you to dig deep in this book! Stress comes from a lot of different things. In order to understand it you have to work on yourself and know your limits, and how to deal with it appropriately. This book is rather interactive as the author asks you questions to help further your self-care. 

Being able to apply what you're reading to your every day life is vital, and a lot of books are just a read through, this book is different. The authors really want you to know how to apply what you're learning in your day to day routines. Having a plan in place to know how to control your stressors instead of them controlling you is my favorite aspect of this book.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who lives a fast paced and stress filled life. Not only that but for those who just are living with stress and not understanding how to control it, this book is perfect! Compact, concise, and filled with every day words, you really "get" what it is they're teaching you!

Embrace Happiness: The Art of Conflict Management

Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review.

Conflict is a natural part of relationships, especially as you face the challenges of parenting. When you work together on conflict management, you build happy, healthy relationships and teach your children important life skills. However, children who are exposed to severe and frequent conflict are more likely to be disobedient and to experience problems such as depression, aggression or poor performance at school.

Are you practicing constructive conflict management in front of your child? 

Author Ali Soleymaniha has been researching and practicing in the field of conflict management for more than a decade. With a desire to guide others seeking happiness in their relationships, Soleymaniha was inspired to pen his new book, “Embrace Happiness: The Art of Conflict Management.” 

Here are six tips for parents to use when working through conflict: 

1.    Always start and end the conversation by affirming that you care about the other person
2.    Be open to the idea that you made a mistake even if you are sure you did not
3.    Don't speak in generalities of another person's behavior 
4.    Always work to be the first to apologize when any dispute arises
5.    Focus on trying to discover what's right, not who is right
6.    Remind yourself the other person also cares about reconciling the relationship

My thoughts

We all handle conflict differently.  Some in a good way and some not so good.  This is a great tool book to manage conflict.

I really liked reading through this book.  It is an easy simple read.  And not an overly long book either.  I for one don't like conflict of any kind.  This was just the book I needed to read.  There are a lot of examples and tools to use to avoid conflict.  There are only seven chapters, but they are loaded with tons of information.

Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex, or Whatever

Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review.

A Q&A guide for mother-daughter conversations about female health and sexuality, this book targets both daughters and mothers. Start Talking contains more than 113 questions girls ask including questions about periods, sex, relationships, guys, eating, exercise, body development, along with similar questions verbalized by mothers. Each chapter contains basic information accompanied by real-life vignettes, questions and answers for moms, questions and answers for daughters, "Table Talk" suggestions for moms on how to engage each other around these topics. This book differs from books targeting just girls understanding their own bodies, and from books targeting just mothers on what they should know: it is deliberately meant to spark conversations.


My thoughts:

I absolutely needed this book with an eleven year daughter.  The suggestions on how to open a conversation on menstrual cycles, boys, doctor visits etc. The Q & A format was extremely helpful on suggested conversation starters.  As a mom with a young daughter who isn't far from becoming a teenager, I want to keep communication open with her, and I want her to know that she can come to me with anything.   We have read some sections in this book together, and had discussions on what we have read.  

This is an easy read, and very very informative. The Table Talk sections throughout the chapters are great.  After reading this book you might notice changes in your daughter that you didn't prior to reading this.   There are many topics in this book that I had never even thought of. I am very happy to have this book, and will have it handy for a few years.

The Journey of the Heroic Parent

Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review.

There are a lot of parenting books that tell you what to do—this isn’t one of them. When a child is spiraling out of control, parents desperately turn to experts for a clear answer—a surefire solution to the question “What can I do to fix my child?” However, asking how to change your child is not the right question. 

In his groundbreaking book, THE JOURNEY OF THE HEROIC PARENT: Your Child’s Struggle & The Road Home (Regan Arts, April 21, 2015), Dr. Brad M. Reedy provides a process that helps parents find their own wisdom that is hidden beneath the guilt, fear, and shame. This is not another expert-therapist doling out the latest advice. Instead, it is a way for parents to discover how to think about their decisions when raising children. The result of healthy parenting is not well-behaved children but rather peace, clarity, and confidence as a human being. The parenting tools Dr. Reedy provides changes parents, not children, and that change has a profound impact on families. 

Brad M. Reedy, PhD, father of four, is a wilderness therapist who knows the helplessness a parent feels when their child suddenly becomes hostile or unreachable, whether due to addiction, a mood disorder, depression, an eating disorder, bullying, or adolescent hormones. With unique insight and empathy, Dr. Reedy can help all the baffled, exasperated, anxious, and suffering parents by offering this fresh perspective. 

Parents will learn: 

• How to be more of an intentional parent.
• How to teach children to feel—and how to develop the capacity to sit with your children in their pain.  
• How to uncover the ways in which your childhood affected your parenting style, however subtle—and then how to make conscious, positive changes in how you parent.   
• How to let go of control while increasing your influence with your children.
• How to communicate expectations and enforce consequences for behavior without the damaging side effects of shame and guilt.
• How to listen to your children and thus provide them with the most critical ingredient in self-esteem—the experience of being heard.

My thoughts:

This is a great book that is loaded with a lot of valuable/helpful information for anyone raising a child or children.  

There are ten chapters that touch on many different subjects.  You can either read the book from front to back or look at the sections in each chapter to see if there is something that hits home and you want to read first.  Chapter five actually was one of my favorites chapters in this book, which is Tools for encouraging change in our children.  Although I liked reading through the other chapters.  I can promise that there is something in this book that everyone will be able to connect with.

Brad M. Reedy, Phd writes in a simple easy to read and understand format.  And i know that this will be my go to book since I have more than one child.  It will help me come to grips with my children's behavior and how I can connect with them and help.

  

SECRETS OF A 21st CENTURY ALCHEMIST

If it feels as if something is missing from your life, though you may not know what, discover secrets that can help you fill that emptiness. Self-inquiry is necessary in order to awaken to our inherent divine nature. Because that can be a challenging task for many of us, SECRETS OF A 21st CENTURY ALCHEMIST offers readers not only questions to consider on this journey, but also answers to ponder and ideas to contemplate. This potent and inspirational memoir presents convincing insights and lessons for seekers of all faith traditions, or none. It guarantees you'll make some fascinating discoveries about your own life and the role you've come to play at this exciting time in the life of our planet.




My thoughts:


A good book.  Susan Truett Trammell has some good solid information.She offers a lot of tools in helping you understand how to change things in your life.

There are twelve chapters (Secrets as they are called in this book). This book isn't very long, but a good easy read.  I have found through some of this a connection on how things are in my own life, and how I can change things. I do think I will probably skim through this book from time to time.

The Art of Having It All – A Woman’s Guide to Unlimited Abundance

The Art of Having It All – Christy Whitman

Many of us feel like the universe often holds a far bigger vision for us than we are capable of seeing for ourselves at any particular moment in time.  As we get older, and experience life, we see that getting ahead requires that we embrace change and understand that we need to move toward it in a fluid way, not against it … it’s very much like dancing. 

It’s not all about winning, or having lots of money, and or a fantastic career and wonderful family. Having it all is more about the feeling we carry with us in the privacy of our own hearts and minds.

In the new book The Art of Having It All – A Woman’s Guide to Unlimited Abundance  (due out January 31, 2015), Christy Whitman offers up a modern strategy for women who want to “have it all”. She lays out a path forward that shows people how to feel thankful, hopeful, and healthy all at the same time, all the time. 

The ideas she shares can not only be used to chart a course to greater abundance and success, but to a deeper connection with yourself and an increased ability to enjoy all that you are and all that you have created and have yet to create. Here are some of the steps she recommends women take.

My thoughts:

What a great, powerful book!   I read this book from front to back within two days.  And I plan on re-reading it again.  

While reading this book, it was as if Christy Whitman was talking directly to me.  She writes in a simple, easy to follow manner.  Each and every chapter is very powerful.  And at the end of every chapter there is a play sheet, which made me think deep as I was completing the play sheet.  

Each chapter in this book is just as good as the one before.  I loved reading Christy   Whitman's personal stories.  I could actually relate to a couple of them.  As I reached the end of this book, I know I can have it all.  I can have a better, loving, happy, peaceful life.  I will also be able to rid and let go of things to hold me back such as my negative doubts.  I will be using a lot of what i read and learned from Christy's book to incorporate  a better life for me.

I highly recommend this book to the young and old, women as well as men.   

amazon.